diff --git a/jvb/rootfs/etc/services.d/jvb/finish b/jvb/rootfs/etc/services.d/jvb/finish
index 9f7171a..85a5659 100644
--- a/jvb/rootfs/etc/services.d/jvb/finish
+++ b/jvb/rootfs/etc/services.d/jvb/finish
@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@
 # services and shutdown the container.
 
 if [[ $1 -eq 0 ]]; then
-  s6-svscanctl -t /var/run/s6/services
+  /opt/jitsi/shutdown.sh
 fi
diff --git a/jvb/rootfs/opt/jitsi/shutdown.sh b/jvb/rootfs/opt/jitsi/shutdown.sh
index 0464acb..4821f60 100755
--- a/jvb/rootfs/opt/jitsi/shutdown.sh
+++ b/jvb/rootfs/opt/jitsi/shutdown.sh
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 #!/usr/bin/with-contenv bash
-# notify the sidecar of imminent shutdown
-PORT=${AUTOSCALER_SIDECAR_PORT:-6000}
-curl -d '{}' -v 0:$PORT/hook/v1/shutdown
-sleep 10
+
+if [ -n "$AUTOSCALER_URL" ]; then
+    # notify the sidecar of imminent shutdown
+    PORT=${AUTOSCALER_SIDECAR_PORT:-6000}
+    curl -d '{}' -v 0:$PORT/hook/v1/shutdown
+    sleep 10
+fi
 
 # shutdown everything
 s6-svscanctl -t /var/run/s6/services